A journalist working for The Sunday Times had sex with a dentist as part of a sting operation by investigativereporter Mazher Mahmood, a misconduct hearing was told yesterday.
According to Mail Online, the freelance journalist went undercover on an investigation led by Mahmood to try to persuade 56-year-old Omar Addow to perform female circumcision on her two nieces.
The hearing heard claims that Addow initially refused to carry out the illegal operation but then went into a room with the woman for an hour before being recorded saying: “I will do it for you. Between you, me and Allah only.”
A story appeared in the Sunday Times in April 2012 and Addow was arrested two weeks later but not charged.
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During the misconduct hearing at the General Dental Council, Tom Kark QC, acting for the GDC, said Addow first told the reporter that he was against female circumcision.
The Sunday Times last night stood by the reporter. A spokesman told Mail Online: “The journalist in question was a freelance engaged in a legitimate undercover investigation by The Sunday Times into female genital mutilation, which is a matter of public interest.
“She categorically denies having had sexual intercourse or any other sexually intimate contact with Dr Addow.”
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Neither the journalist in question nor Mahmood will be called to give evidence.
Mahmood was formerly an investigative reporter at the News of the World, where his stings included the Duchess of York’s cash for access scandal and the Pakistan cricket team’s spot-fixing affair. He now works for The Sun.
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